ALBANY – The Pataki administration is being accused of supporting animal cruelty by giving state dollars to a Catskills company that makes foie gras, a French delicacy.

The Humane Society of the United States yesterday sent a letter to Gov. Pataki demanding the state withdraw a $420,000 economic-development grant to Hudson Valley Foie Gras in Sullivan County for an expansion project.

Foie gras is made by force-feeding ducks corn pellets by inserting a tube into their esophaguses in order to increase the size of their livers.. Hudson Valley Foie Gras owner Izzy Yanay defended the practice as painless to the ducks and accused the Humane Society of pushing an anti-animal agriculture agenda.

“They’re trying to use us because we’re small, vulnerable and easy to attack,” Yanay said.